Across the city line on Long Island, a few of the signature summer events for the Jewish communities of the Five Towns, Great Neck, and West Hempstead are the barbecue fundraisers for One Israel Fund, with each of these three locations hosting its own event.
West Hempstead’s hosts are Alan and Sharon Shulman, along with nearly 50 families and rabbis from seven local synagogues. Seeing neighbors from many walks of life reserving their spots for the Tuesday, July 8, event strengthens the connection between my community and those in Israel.
Between the steaks and sushi, participants sample wines made in the heartland of historic Israel, produced on hills mentioned in the Tanach. A short video introduces residents of Yehudah and Shomron: soldiers and their families, educators, and entrepreneurs. Yochai Provisor, director of security projects, will share some of his experiences overseeing the incredible life-saving work of the fund, while Executive Vice President Scott M. Feltman will provide an update on all the latest projects taking place in Yehudah and Shomron.
“The medical center is moving forward; the exterior of the building is complete,” Feltman said. At the organization’s 30th anniversary dinner, this project raised $10 million, with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee as the keynote speaker. This longtime supporter of Jewish building projects was later appointed by President Donald J. Trump as the United States Ambassador to Israel.
Located in Sha’ar Binyamin, it follows the example of the medical center built in Efrat to serve residents of Gush Etzion, providing medical services and emergency care closer to the homes of Jews in Yehudah and Shomron. The need for a medical center in Binyamin was exemplified by a tragedy. In 2016, Malachi Rosenfeld, a student at Hebrew University, was fatally wounded by Hamas gunmen on Route 60 near Shiloh. He died of his wounds en route to a hospital in Yerushalayim. Similarly, that year, off-duty soldier Tuvia Yanai Weissman was shopping at the supermarket in Sha’ar Binyamin when he intervened to stop two Palestinian teens who were stabbing Jews. Unarmed, he was fatally stabbed and died before reaching the nearest hospital.
“Eight years ago, I vowed we would never endure such tragedies again,” said Yesha Council Chairman Yisrael Ganz in his remarks at the dinner. “Thanks to the vision and leadership of One Israel Fund and the generosity of our partners, this dream is becoming a reality. Together, we are saving lives and strengthening the future of Judea and Samaria.”
Even as Feltman focused on non-combat projects, the ongoing war in Gaza and last month’s air strikes against Iran highlighted One Israel Fund’s security initiatives.
“Instead of a knee-jerk reaction, we contacted ministers in the government so that we could figure out where we could be most helpful,” he said. “The government put aside 100 million shekels for bomb shelters. Some of that money was allocated for our areas, so we called the Ministry of Settlements to coordinate with them and ensure that there was no duplication, and we could get needed shelters to those most in need.”
Feltman also noted that some of the security equipment projects funded by One Israel Fund throughout the years have now been adopted by the government. Rather than duplicate, the nonprofit is seeking new ways to enhance security, such as virtual reality training for civilian first-response teams to better prepare for terrorist attacks. “Eventually, the government will catch on. We fill in gaps where needed,” he said.
Looking toward peace, One Israel Fund addresses the effects of war on Jews in Yehudah and Shomron, whose sons have disproportionately paid the price in the Gaza war.
“Regarding the enormity of addressing the mental health crisis, we don’t provide the human capital, but we work with regional and local councils to ascertain where programs can be established by refurbishing existing structures. We fix them up for the local communities, which then provide the therapists,” Feltman said. “It’s therapy for the soldiers returning as well as the husbands, wives, and children who remained behind but have carried their own brunt of the war. Israel is a very proud society, so admitting that there’s a mental health crisis is difficult – but they are coming around on it.”
In supporting religious needs, One Israel Fund has a donor who wanted to dedicate a sefer Torah to a community with a specific need. “Our first hope was to see if there were any communities down south that never had a Torah but wanted one, or whose sifrei Torah were destroyed. We did not find a proper community there, so we contacted Rabbi Yedidya Atlas of the Chief Rabbinate’s office of the IDF. Two and a half weeks ago, the day before Israel attacked Iran, the donor family went up to a base near Mt. Hermon and had a wonderful sefer Torah dedication with 400 soldiers. That sefer Torah is now in its permanent home on an IDF army base inside Syria. That’s probably the first sefer Torah in Syria since the Syrian Jews were evacuated.”
Feltman said that this base is temporary, as President Trump negotiates with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, with the summit of Mount Hermon expected to return to Syrian control.
Fundraising for the needs of a half million Jews whose homes do not have international recognition and are subject to boycotts is no easy task – and it helps to have a high-profile supporter with a microphone.
“Sid Rosenberg got very involved after October 7, and he’s been on three trips to Israel where he broadcast,” Feltman said of the conservative radio talk show host. “Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzmaut was his most recent visit. He’s reaching out to his listeners and friends.”
At Mitzpei Yericho, One Israel Fund is helping to build a sports complex with a basketball arena, dance studio, and exercise and weight room. The exercise and weight room is being dedicated in memory of a soldier who was killed. “Jesse’s Gym. Our dear friend, Sid Rosenberg, host of the #1 radio program in NY, is working with us to raise the funds – not only for the weight room but the basketball arena as well,” Feltman said.
“Israel wants to move beyond war. We want to grow in peace, laying the groundwork to accomplish that goal. By building libraries, playgrounds, sports and cultural centers, synagogues, mikvaos, and hospitals, we are not only securing these towns, but making them places to move and raise healthy and happy families – and that’s the ultimate goal.”
Between Huckabee representing the United States in Yerushalayim and One Israel Fund founder Dr. Yechiel Leiter serving as the top Israeli diplomat in Washington, the organization considers this year a proud moment in its 30-year history. Then there is the recent approval for new communities throughout Yehudah and Shomron, including the rebuilding of Homesh, which was evacuated in 2005 as part of the expulsion from Gush Katif and the northern Shomron. With the approval of the government, One Israel Fund is ready to provide playgrounds, community centers, libraries, and other quality-of-life needs, as well as the necessary preventive security equipment and training to keep them safe.
“We’ve gone from an organization raising three million a year to ten million over the past two years,” Feltman said.
Looking at the past, he expressed confidence that the Jewish future in Yehudah and Shomron is strong and secure. “If we had built up the communities in Gush Katif like we’ve been fortunate to do in Judea and Samaria – our Biblical heartland – the evacuation couldn’t have happened. There are over 500,000 Jews in Judea and Samaria. They can’t be moved.”
By Sergey Kadinsky
